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Former Ireland out-half O'Gara linked with surprise World Cup role
By Online Editors
Ronan O’Gara has emerged as a surprise contender to link up with Jacques Brunel’s under-fire France for the World Cup in Japan.
The conclusion of the Six Nations reignited debate over whether Brunel’s back room staff needs additional help to lift itself out of the spiral that has seen them win just five of their 16 matches under the head coach who appointed in a hurry as successor to Guy Noves, who was sacked in December 2017.
The electroshock which federation president Bernard Laporte hoped would happen with the change of guard didn’t materialise, as the French have stumbled from one calamity to the next.
There were mid-Six Nations rumours that ex-French captain Fabien Galthie could be parachuted in on the coaching ticket. Brunel stood by the staff he had, but the debate has now reignited with Midi Olympique on Monday championing the case for former scrum-half’s inclusion.
Now another French newspaper, L’Equipe, has reported that Galthie isn’t the only potential candidate who could provide technical expertise in the countdown to a World Cup pool where France are drawn against England, Argentina, USA and Tonga, the island nation who surprise them at the 2011 finals in New Zealand.
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O’Gara, whose Test level coaching experience amounts to spending a week in Ireland camp in New York during 2017, could potentially link up with Brunel on a freelance basis.
The former Racing 92 defence coach is currently working for Crusaders, the defending Super Rugby champions, and would be available at the latest by the beginning of July.
The France team staff are conducting a Six Nations review from Wednesday to Friday to discuss a fourth place finish they only sealed with a shaky win over Italy in Rome. It offers the opportunity for them to consider if they need additional help, something Laporte would be willing to sanction.
“I was hoping for an electroshock, it didn’t work. In upsetting the staff because things were not going well, we were hoping for a better state of mind but the results did not follow,” said Laporte about his axing of Noves 16 months ago.
“We need to go even further in terms of content and skills. I’m here to find solutions. Things must change and I will listen to the coaches in place to know their feelings.
"I think he Jacques answered the question (about additional staff) for the Six Nations tournament but not for the World Cup. Once again, the request must come from them,” said the federation chief ahead of the post-mortem about a Six Nations where France lost to Wales, England and Ireland.
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Latest Comments
I think Italy were always targetting this match and intended to win. They needed to exorcise the 2023 RWC. I think they could have done with a bit more help from other 6Ns particularly from Ireland to knock more holes in NZ and their confidence.
Mentioned before the Italy Argentina match was a virus that ripped through the Italy camp early that week. In general play Italy were competitive albeit with a high error count and crucial missed tackles.
Ive said it before the era of NZ turning up unprepared for all comers and triumphing is definitively over. If a Tier1 team target NZ and NZ do not prepare accordingly they are in with a major chance of losing. It used to occur the odd time in RWCs against France, now it can occur v any Tier1. The competition has improved. NZ can still be at the top but their talents must be deployed sufficiently into dismantling teams as with their attack then allowed to exploit.
They dismantled Ireland pretty well in Dublin which went largely unnoticed. That allowed them scoreboard advantage and attacking opportunities of which one was enough.
That Italian team beat Wales and significantly Scotland last year. They used the loss to NZ in the most positive way possible. No doubt NZ prepared but I would assume it was similar to versus Argentina: 3/4 arsed at best. These test matches are rare and this was another chance to practice dismantling a determined and prepared opponent which was lost. If Italy had scored a 7 pointer at 17-6....an Italian win was on.
Go to commentsGB = England, Scotland, Wales. UK = England, Wales, Scotland, NI
Nothing to stew son.
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